This past weekend was the 2016 East Coast Missions Conference at Calvary Chapel of Philadelphia. I am looking forward to listening to the messages as time permits. So far I have only been able to listen to one, but it was so good. Here is the link. Matt Ellison shares a message entitled “When Safety is Satanic.”

Have you ever thought that those missionaries who are going to the mission field are being unwise, if not downright irresponsible, especially if they are taking children with them or going to a dangerous area of the world? Have you ever questioned a missionary’s call based upon their “ignoring” of safety, security, or lack of future benefit to themselves or their children? Some might say, “Well, at least you’re not going there with my grandchildren. That can’t be God’s will.” Or even, “You want to go to those awful people who want to destroy us? How dare you help those people. What a waste.”

Maybe you’ve never said those things, but perhaps you have thought them at one time or another. What does the Bible have to teach about the Kingdom of God and the American Dream? Are they one and the same? Are missionaries missing out out the blessings of God so as to simply experience some form of self-inflicted suffering? Or rather, are many Christians missing out on great blessing by seeking to preserve an ethereal aura of security, and consequently not encouraging others who are risking their own safety?

Matt Ellison of Sixteen:Fifteen Church Missions Coaching shares, “Do we have in mind the things of God. Do we value the temporal over the eternal. Do we prize our safety and security more than we prize the gospel’s advance? For many Christians the Kingdom of God and the American Dream are one and the same.” Take a listen to this message and be challenged to live radically for Jesus, and encourage others to do the same.